I found the following email that was shared with me to be quite interesting coming from Angela Bryant for several reasons. But later on yesterday I seen it posted on Fighting Crime.

Reason 1 I found it interesting who the recipients were. None of these folk more than likely had nothing to do with the set up for this. I thought that someone was hired to do marketing so I would think the concerns should be directed to. However I know the marketing person/s will be seeking events to come, I would think that those who want to have an event there would be contacting the Event Center to book the facility.

The Rocky Mount City Council is set to discuss roof repairs among other topics Monday afternoon.

The council is scheduled to hold a public hearing relative to application to the Local Government Commission for approval of an installment purchase contract for fiscal year 2019 construction projects.

The city is seeking arrangement with PNC Bank, National Association for $833,000 with a fixed interest rate of 2.36 percent for a 59-month term; $1.2 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.96 percent for a 59-month term; and $1 million with a fixed interest rate of 2.60 percent for an 84-month term with a total cost of $3.1 million.

A 2016 HUD consultant report swept under the rug by local officials at the time details how the city has been propping up the Rocky Mount-Edgecombe Community Development Corp.

Commissioned by the city, the report is a bleak assessment of the city’s Community Housing Development Organization funds known as CHDO. Conducted by the Minnesota Housing Partnership, the report was handed over to then-City Manager Charles Penny and the City Council.

After that, the report never saw the light of day.

The Telegram obtained the report from a whistleblower who also turned it over to State Auditor Beth Wood.

CDC Executive Director Joyce Dickens — recently appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to the state’s Rural Infrastructure Authority — said she wasn’t given the report in 2016 and when the Telegram provided it to her last week, it was the first time she saw it. (Read more)

Rocky Mount Councilman Reuben Blackwell said he supports housing development on Tarboro Street and if he misspoke about knowledge of parking plans at the site, he’s only human.

Blackwell said in a meeting last week that he was unaware of plans to break a proposed agreement with Edgecombe Community College on downtown parking versus a housing project; but the real issue is the need for such housing.

“I stand by my position, my vote and my constituents on that location as the best site for this affordable, workforce housing development to help build the momentum of a beautiful, vibrant, diverse and economically beneficial downtown Rocky Mount that everyone can enjoy,” said Blackwell, who answered Telegram questions on the matter from Thursday on Friday morning after presstime for a report in today’s edition. (Read more)